A federal judge has blocked efforts to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump and halted a planned closure tied to a major renovation project. The ruling found that the center's board lacked authority to make the changes without congressional approval.

The dispute began after leadership changes at the Kennedy Center during Trump’s second term. The board approved a proposal to add Trump’s name to the institution and temporarily close the venue for extensive renovations, prompting legal challenges from critics who argued that only Congress can alter the center’s name.

Visitors gather inside the Kennedy Center as legal disputes continue over the institution's governance and future renovation plans.